Online Discussion about Wither the Post Modern Library

I want to start off by saying it was really nice to meet online for class to do this discussion. I know it was only because the building was closed for Veteran's Day but it was important to show the new program students how it works to have class in the zone. Many of the other classes in the program require online classes and this was a great introduction. Now I have to say i am more of a Wisner on the subject of technology in the library. That is not to say I think all technology should be avoided in the library but at least limited as much as possible. Courtney talks about how to revolutionize the library almost to the point it could not be called a library anymore but more less just a computer lab with few books. We may have reached a milestone where government officials my need to look into public computer labs that are separate from the public library. Now that I work in a library I see the traffic jam of people trying to use computers in our small building. Many times we have so many waiting they take up the table space for patrons actually using the library to study or read. Another aspect of the traffic jam is we librarians are spending way to much time helping computer users that have little experience with the technology. I do not mind helping people at all with this but on the other hand I cannot focus on many of the tasks at hand. Especially, the patrons looking for books or re shelving items. With that said, I know technology is the future but should we just let printed items go the way of the dodo? My answer is NO. I agree with Wisner when he said, "We have to stand for the book." Technology comes and goes quickly in today's society. Libraries have neither the funds nor the resources to keep up with the latest rage. We need to get back to the basics and provide people the service we always have; books and information patrons need. It would be a huge loss of culture and dignity for a community to take books away from the public and replace them with computers. Will I be a captain or a hitchhiker on the road to the future? I will be a captain for the use of books and the limiting of technology in the library. Personally, I will stay up on the latest trends to make sure I will always be able to provide the best service to the public. I will stay a champion for books, reading, and the arts because I could not imagine a world where books were second class citizens in a library. The other day I had a girl ask me why I was studying for my masters to be a professional librarian. I said, "the more you read the smarter you get, the smarter you get the better decisions you make, the better decisions you make the more you give to society, and the more you give to society the more you help the world. I do not know why I said that but it sounded good. The girl smiled at me and handed me her two books, I looked down and saw they were both study guides to the GRE.